Bill lets graduates retroactively receive diploma

Nevada high school graduates who did not receive a diploma because of one or more failed High School Proficiency Exams are getting a second chance.

The Nevada Legislature recently passed a bill removing the requirement that students must pass the exams to receive either a standard or adult diploma. It also allows students who failed to earn a diploma because of poor marks on one or more of the tests to retroactively apply to receive a diploma.

The Nevada Legislature established the Nevada High School Profiency Exam in 1979 to raise writing standards. Reading and math exams were added in the 1980s and became requirements for graduation, and in 2010 a science exam was added. The decision to remove the tests was made a few years ago, and the class of 2015-16 was the last required to pass the tests to graduate.

In Lyon County, the senior class at the district’s combined five high schools is typically between about 525 and 550 students. However, about 50 to 75 students annually failed to receive diplomas because of the High School Proficiency Exam requirement, Superintendent Wayne Workman said.

Workman, who formerly served as principal of Dayton High School, said he recently ran into a former student who did not receive her diploma because she failed the math exam.

“We worked really hard to get her to pass that darn test, and it just didn’t work,” he said. Workman said she was “just so excited” to learn she could retroactively receive a diploma. “It is a big deal to those who were unable to receive their diplomas at the time.”

For the district to consider issuing a diploma, past students must submit a written request to the high school they attended their senior year requesting a diploma, Workman said. School administrators and guidance counselors will consider if the student is eligible.

Workman said each of the district’s high schools has already had requests from students seeking diplomas, although he didn’t have an exact number.

“I’m actually very excited these students will have a chance to get their high school diploma,” he said.

Past graduation rates will not be altered by the change in requirements, nor will students who did not have enough credits to graduate be impacted.